Blank Gameweek 31 is one of those pivotal moments in Fantasy Premier League where rank can swing massively — and targeting low-owned players is often the difference.
Encouragingly, last week’s differential picks delivered again. O. Dango picked up an assist and maximum bonus against Wolves, Andersen returned with a clean sheet and DEFCON points for Fulham, while Hill also delivered a clean sheet and DEFCON points against Burnley.
That’s exactly the kind of edge we’re looking to replicate!
Our strategy balances attacking potential with defensive coverage:
⚽ 3 attacking player – midfielders or forwards
🛡️ 2 defensive players – defenders or goalkeepers
This ensures coverage across the pitch while prioritising FPL points, essential for Gameweek success.
The 25-year-old England international is ticking plenty of boxes right now. He’s playing out of position as a forward, is on penalties, and comes into this off the back of two goals in his last two games.
✅ 2 goals in his last 2 games
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) March 17, 2026
✅ Playing out of position
✅ On penalties
✅ 5.0% owned
✅ SUN (H) • CRY (A) • BOU (H) up next
Is Anthony Gordon on your radar as an FPL differential? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/JEeXtN6CJr
The underlying numbers back it up. Gordon has played 24 matches, scoring five goals from 8.13 expected goals (xG) and racking up 13 ‘big chances’, suggesting he’s been unlucky not to return more. He’s taken 44 shots, with 19 on target — a strong combination of volume and accuracy.
Creatively, he’s also chipped in with four assists from 3.33 expected assists (xA), while creating five ‘big chances’, giving him multiple routes to points.
With a Tyne-Wear derby at home, the upside is clear. The only concern? He’s currently the most transferred-in player this week, with over 144,000 new owners via the Transfer Analytics tool — so his differential status may not last long.
The 29-year-old England international continues to quietly deliver despite West Ham’s struggles. Remarkably, he is the fourth-highest scoring forward in the game, as shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox.
Bowen has played 30 matches, scoring eight goals from 7.20 xG, supported by 65 shots and 23 on target. Creatively, he’s contributed seven assists from 5.34 xA, alongside 30 attempted assists — a clear sign of consistent involvement.
What stands out most is his reliability. He’s returned (goal, assist or DEFCON) in seven of his last eight matches, offering a steady stream of points rather than explosive hauls.
Villa may look a tough fixture on paper, but their recent defensive record tells a different story. They’ve conceded seven goals across matches against Manchester United and Chelsea, lost to bottom club Wolves, drawn with relegation-battling Leeds, and were beaten at home by Newcastle.
With Unai Emery’s side also balancing Europa League commitments — including a Thursday night clash with Lille — there are clear signs of fatigue and vulnerability. That could create the perfect conditions for Bowen to continue ticking over.
The 24-year-old Burkina Faso international makes the list again — and for good reason. Since featuring regularly in these articles, he’s returned two assists and maximum bonus points in recent matches.
A quick look at the Match Centre highlights just how important he is to Brentford. Over the last five Gameweeks, he ranks fifth for xG (0.7), while his creativity really stands out — top for assists (2) and attempted assists (9) among his teammates.
Across the season, he’s made 24 appearances, scoring five goals from 6.34 xG, suggesting he could easily have more returns, especially having registered 13 ‘big chances’.
His creative output is equally impressive, with seven assists — the seventh-highest among midfielders — despite those above him having played more matches and minutes.
Brentford’s upcoming run — Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (H) — ranks them fifth-best for attacking difficulty in the Fixture Planner, and he continues to offer excellent value at his price point.
If you’re chasing upside at low ownership, he remains one of the standout picks.
The 24-year-old Germany international has emerged as one of the most tempting differentials for Blank Gameweek 31.
He’s played 27 matches, scoring four goals from an impressive 5.25 xG — underlining that his attacking returns are no fluke. He’s registered 25 shots, with 12 on target (as shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox), and has had nine ‘big chances’ — the most of any defender.
Defensively, he’s also delivered five clean sheets and averages 8.74 defensive contributions per game, making him a genuine dual-threat asset.
What adds to the appeal is the opposition. Sunderland appear to have dropped off significantly compared to earlier in the season, when they were overperforming their xG. They’ve scored just three goals in the last six Gameweeks — the lowest in the league — with two of those coming from penalties.
With Newcastle hosting Sunderland, both clean sheet potential and attacking upside are firmly on the table.
The 28-year-old Poland international is expected to return after missing Gameweek 30, and his timing couldn’t be better.
Villa top the projected clean sheets in the Predicted Points & Stats tool over the next three with — West Ham (H), Forest (A), Sunderland (H) — giving them a strong opportunity to tighten up at the back after some underwhelming defensive performances recently.
Cash has played 27 matches, registering three goals and two assists. His underlying numbers suggest there’s more to come, with 24 attempted assists, four ‘big chances’ created, and nine shots on target.
He offers multiple routes to points, even if Villa’s defence remains slightly inconsistent.
Blank Gameweek 31 is all about balance — covering key fixtures while ensuring you can field 11 players.
With many managers likely to Wildcard in Gameweek 32, this could be the perfect opportunity to take a one-week punt on a differential.
If last week is anything to go by, backing the right differentials can deliver — and these five look well placed to do exactly that.
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